Chapter Ten - Love and Hate

Legolas angrily strung his bow and shot an arrow into the target before him. That was quickly followed with another, which split the first, then another, which did the same. He carried on like this until he had no arrows left. He stormed up to the target to survey what he had done. Every arrow was split perfectly down the middle. Even in the midst of his anger, he was still one of the best archers in Middle-Earth.

He walked over to the armoury and began to refill his quiver with arrows. It was going to take a lot of split wood to relieve him of his vile mood. It had been three days since the ball, but he was still furious. Ariel had humiliated him in front of his people and Lord Elrond. The Wood elves would be talking about it for years to come. In a place where time has no meaning, gossip can last an age. Elladan and Elrohir had not ceased to laugh about it since that night. The great Prince Legolas, hero of the war of the Ring, made speechless and then slapped by a mere mortal. He raised his hand to the spot on his face where she had hit him. It did not hurt, but his pride had taken a real blow.

His mood was not improved by the fact that since that night he had not seen his aide. She had sent another in her place. What right had she to snub him? He was the one who had been humiliated and was being laughed at all across the Elven kingdoms. He had spied her briefly from the top of his favourite tree. She was walking the forest with Elrond. This had filled him with anger. He was still not convinced that there was nothing between them. Why would Elrond be content to simply be friends with such a beauty? He was one of the greatest Elven Lords of Middle-Earth. He could have any woman he wanted and Ariel was one of the most beautiful maidens ever to grace the Earth with her presence. He had difficulty believing that Elrond did not want her as a lover.

He went back to his target and began shooting his arrows again. Once again, he did it with deadly accuracy. He imagined that he was slaying one of the orcs that had once again come to haunt his dreams. Ever since the ball his dreams had darkened. He no longer had images of the lushness of Ithilien or of beautiful maidens in his head. For the past three nights he had replayed the events of the battles he had seen during the quest for the ring and it had made his mood even worse.

To top it all off he was supposed to be having a training session with Thrimalia and she was late. She was never late. She was a soldier, she was always exactly on time. This made him nervous. Not all of the enemy's servants had perished in the west wind and she had some distance to walk between her tree home and the practice arena in the city grounds. She was an accomplished fighter, but were she assailed by a gang of orcs, he was not sure if she would be able to defend herself adequately. He was about to go and look for her when she came running into arena. She was out of breath and looked like she had been running flat out for some time.

"You are late?" Legolas snapped as she stood to attention before him.

"I am sorry Your Highness, I was unavoidably delayed." Legolas looked at her suspiciously. She was hiding something from him. She was a great fighter, but a terrible liar. He was not going to pursue it though, He had already made her more nervous than usual by his ill humour.

"Make sure it does not happen again. My time is valuable and you should be putting in all the training hours you can."

"Yes Your Highness. It shall not happen again."

"Get some arrows from the armoury. We will practice your archery skills today."

"Yes Milord." He sighed as she went over to the armoury for the arrows. He had made her ill at ease and she had reverted to speaking to him using his title. He could not afford to let that happen. She was going to be the most important member of his Court. He would one day have to trust her with his Kingdom and maybe even his life. Nobody would be as important to him as she would. He wanted her to be his friend, his best friend even. She would, after all, be with him when he chose to sail. If he visited the halls of Mandos, she would not be far behind. He already liked her, he had to make her feel the same about him.

She joined him at the line. "Show me your stance." He commanded. She took her bow from her back, strung an arrow and positioned herself at the line. Legolas looked long and hard at her. She had the commanding presence of a General, locked within the body of a young woman, just into adulthood, hidden behind the face of an angel. He had to agree with Ariel that she was very beautiful. Her enemies would be distracted by her loveliness before they could strike out. Still though she was a fighter to the core. The proud bearing of a Silvan warrior was exuded in everything she did. Yes she was shy, and seldom spoke, but with age all that would change and she would take her rightful place in the history of her kindred.

He noticed that her grip was slightly off which was the only fault in an otherwise perfect technique. "You grip the frame too tight," he said. "Loosen your fingers." She did as she was instructed but Legolas still wasn't happy. "Here, watch me," he said, taking his own bow from his back and putting himself into position. "See how my grip is looser." She turned her head and looked at how his fingers seemed to perfectly fit around the bow, as if the weapon was first made with him in mind. "If you hold it too tightly you will send your arrows off course as you release." He replaced his bow and stood back to look at her again. There was still tension in her fingers. He moved close to her and closed his hand over hers and gently loosened her fingers, repositioning them. Her breath caught as he touched her. He put it down to her nerves. She was still clearly jumpy at his having been so snappish earlier.

"That's better," he said, allowing his fingers to linger on her hand just a fraction longer than was necessary. Her skin was so smooth, not at all like his callused, war weary hands. He allowed himself to wonder if she was so smooth everywhere else before quickly shaking that idea from his mind. She was his pupil and a child, such thoughts were highly inappropriate.

"Now try shooting," he said. His voice no longer so harsh, or so confident. He stepped back as she loosed the arrow. It flew swiftly and embedded itself in the target. Not in the centre, but much closer than all of her previous practices. She smiled to herself briefly before restoring her straight face, remembering that Legolas was watching her and had not been in a good mood.

"Smile by all means," he said. "That is a good improvement on everything you have done before."

"But it is still not perfect sire."

"There is plenty of time for perfect aim. For now, be pleased with each success as it comes and enjoy it, do not be ashamed to smile. Try again." She took another arrow and strung her bow, careful to hold it in the way she had just been told.

"Besides, you have a beautiful smile." Her arrow flew straight past the target and went into a tree. She turned away from the Prince, hiding her blush. She wasn't used to being complimented by men. She wasn't used to the company of men. As a young elf, her family had been obsessively protective of her virtue. The only reason she had been allowed to train with the prince was the honour that went with her position. Her father would never have let her anywhere near the prince if she weren't to be the Greenwood's next General.

"I am sorry milady," Legolas said, enjoying the effect his comments had on her. "I did not mean to cause you any embarrassment." She looked at him, smiling slightly, the blush across her cheek serving to make her even more lovely in her tutor's eyes.

"No sire, do not apologise, I was just a little surprised that is all. I must learn to control myself in the face of such distractions." Legolas laughed, only Thrimalia could turn something like this into a training exercise. She took another arrow and began to shoot once more, which is how they spent the rest of their session.

As they talked between bouts of target practice and tutorials on how to handle the weapon, Legolas felt his tension begin to ease and his ill humour was dissipating. Her presence was soothing to him and his heart felt glad to have her near, even if it was just for the short time of the practice session.

After they had been there for some hours Legolas realised that darkness was quickly closing in on them. He could see the sky beginning to turn beautiful shades of pink and orange with the setting sun. "We should finish for today," he said. "You have done well. We will continue tomorrow."

"As you wish sire," Thrimalia said.

"I believe we have been through this before," Legolas said to her, his face becoming slightly stern. Her smile faded and she became nervous again. "I wish for you to call me by my name, I am not a title to be revered, I am your friend Thrimalia.

"I am sorry Legolas," he could tell that she struggled to get that out. "It shall not happen again. I think of no greater honour than being your friend. Goodbye Legolas, until tomorrow." She slung her bow across her back and bowed to him before making to leave.

"Wait!" he called as she made her way to wards the forest. She turned back to face him.

"May I walk you back to your home? I would not like you to meet any remaining orcs or spiders along the way, not alone."

"I am sure that I am quite safe. There hasn't been an orc sighting in these parts for many months, not since the last battle."

"Still I would like to walk you home, make sure that you are safe."

"As you wish." He jogged up to her and began to walk with her into the forest.

"The forest is looking very beautiful," Legolas said. "I do not remember it being in such glory since I was a child, before the shadow fell."

"The destruction of Sauron has brought about many changes across Middle-Earth. For the first time in my lifetime I have seen the sun through the trees of my home and it fills my heart with joy." He looked up and sure enough, he could see the dying rays of the sun creeping through the boughs of the dense trees that had once been shrouded in shadow. Even the air of the forest was purer, more breathable.

"Why did you not attend the ball?" Legolas asked, after they had been walking for a while. "I was disappointed not to see you there, I had hoped for a dance."

Thrimalia looked at him shocked. She had not expected him to even notice her absence let alone be disappointed by it. She was only a child in his eyes, not someone given serious consideration. "I did not think my presence would be missed, especially given what I have heard of the events of that night," she said quietly, hoping that he would not take offence at her bringing that up.

"Well you were missed, by me. Where were you?"

"I used the time to practice. The King gave me leave to do so."

"Well I will ask Father not to do that again. You shouldn't spend all of your time in practise. I would not have you become weary of your task simply to please me, to show me how good you are, I already know that. It is good to be out in society, mingling with your kin. I would not have you forgo the comfort of friendship for me. Will you come to the Celebration of Summer?"

"I do not know. I have never been comfortable when surrounded by the beauty of other elven women. To my sister it comes so naturally and she loves balls and feasts here at the palace, but I feel like I do not belong."

"Why?" Legolas asked, stopping to look at her. "You have every grace required to be the brightest star of my Father's court. Your beauty is unsurpassed by any maiden of the Green Wood and your wisdom is second to none. Do not sell yourself short Thrimalia Hyarmenohtar. You are one of the most highly thought of elves in this realm and you deserve to be so."

"You are too kind Legolas. I do not deserve such praise."

"Yes you do and the sooner you acknowledge that the sooner you will be the great general I know you can be." She blushed a little and looked away. He gently placed his hand on her face and brought it round so that she had to look at him. "Please say that you will be at the Celebration of Summer," his voice was little more than a whisper. "It will not be the same without you there."

She raised her eyes. "If it will make you happy how can I say no?" Her voice was equally quiet as his. At the sight of her looking at him through her long eyelashes, her eyes clear and sparkling from the cold air, a pink tinge on her cheeks, a sudden wave of madness washed over him and he closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss. On hearing her sharp intake of breath, he opened his eyes and saw the look of shock on her face, bringing him to his senses.

He pulled back from her, realising the mistake he was about to make. "I'm so sorry Thrimalia. I don't know what I was thinking. We should get you back to your home." He turned and began walking towards her hut. The shock of what had just happened kept her feet rooted to the spot for a few moments. Had the Prince of the Green Wood really just almost kissed her?

She quickly realised that he had already walked away and ran to catch up with him. As she slowed down and began to walk by his side, he spoke to her. "I think it best if we do not speak about what just happened. I was being stupid. I do not want anything to come between us."

"As you wish." They proceeded to walk in silence until they came to the beech tree in which her hut was built. "Thank you for walking me back Legolas."

"It is my pleasure. Are you all right here, living alone?" he asked. He suddenly didn't like to think of her living in the forest on her own. "Do you not miss living with others?"

"Obviously I miss my family, but they have their own home in the South. I am happy living here near the city."

"But would you not prefer to live IN the city? Surely things get lonely here."

"I like the silence. It affords me time to read and just to enjoy the forest. I have friends enough when I am in the City, the time alone here is nice."

"I imagine it is. Good night Thrimalia. I will see you tomorrow." She turned away from him and climbed the ladder into her hut. Legolas quickly turned and hurried away, mortified by his actions.

He headed towards the groves. He needed time to think about what had just happened. She was his pupil, not an object of affection. He had such hopes for Valmari and himself, why was he suddenly feeling this way over a child? Yes she was beautiful, but beyond his reach surely.

He came to the Pallion grove and began to wander among the fruit, which was now covered in the blue spots which showed it had become poisonous. He was reminded of Ariel. He had often walked here with her. This was the place where she would impart her wisdom about love to him. Where she would badger him to consider what he desired in a wife. The sense of peace being with Thrimalia had brought him began to fade and he became angry just thinking about Ariel. He still could not believe what she had done to him in front of all those people. He still felt humiliated.

He turned a corner and suddenly there she was, sitting on a bench staring at the orange sky. She heard his footsteps and turned to see who it was coming towards her. She stood when she saw it was the Prince.

"Your Highness," she said, curtseying. "I had hoped to see you here. We have much to discuss."

"Yes we do." He took a deep breath to keep his anger down and sat down on the bench. She took the seat beside him. "Why have you sent another in your place these past three days?"

"I needed time to cool down. Had I seen you before now, I would have been unable to keep my temper in check. We cannot go on this way though. I have a job to do here and I cannot very well do it if we are avoiding each other. So I propose that we make attempts to heal this breach between us."

"Very well. I accept your apology."

"My apology!"

"Yes, is that not what you were just offering?"

"It certainly was not. I have nothing to apologise for."

"I beg to differ milady, but I think you do. You humiliated me in front of all of the nobles of this land. You have made me a laughing stock."

"And you insulted me in the worst possible way highness." Her voice was now beginning to raise.

"I think I had good reason to ask those questions of you. You are supposed to be here in the city working to help me, not to go cavorting around with whomever takes your fancy."

"I do not put my position here second to my 'fancy' as you call it. For my sins, your future is my main priority."

"Well, it did not seem that way when you were entertaining Herdrin and Elrond." She stood up and glared down at him.

"The people who I take to be my friends are none of your business. I will not be dictated to by your jealousy. If I wish to spend what little time I have away from you with another man, that is what I will do. You are not my husband and you are not my father."

"Thank the Valar for that. I do not know what would become of my sanity if I had such an intimate relationship with someone like you. But perhaps other men are not so fussy when it comes down to virtue."

The look on her face turned to pure fury and she turned from him and began to walk away, not trusting herself to speak. However, she could not leave without saying one last thing and she turned back leaving him with her final, parting words. "Once again Prince, your words have been offensive beyond anything I have ever heard before. Do not expect to see me tomorrow or any day soon. As from this moment, I will not serve you again," and with that she left, with the intention of never seeing her former master again.